Hi
Ex on high salary (comfortably into 6 figures) & has just dropped maintenance by over 2/3 - so now I'm substantially cashflow negative every month. - This was totally out-of-the-blue and nothing to do with any change in his financial circumstances. He is not doing anything illegal - i.e. the cut is to legal minimum.
It's a long story - but suffice to say I AM making huge efforts to get back into the workplace - but it's very slow as I have a skillset that gets me into jobs that are wholly inappropriate with a single parenthood & the long commute (that is sadly inevitable in London). It's also not that easy to walk into a part-time local admin role when you've got a high profile corporate CV. I'm also doing my darndest to get him into mediation - but not having much luck there either.
My question for Mumsnet crowd is this: I've had to all of a sudden dramatically cut day-to-day household expenditure in order to buy some time. My son (6.5yrs) has noticed I've started to say 'no' to lots of things we would have done in the past. I've had to tell him that all of a sudden we have loads less money. But he keeps on asking 'why?' - I've been trying to dodge this - but it's getting harder and harder.
Do I factually tell him - his Dad has cut the money he gives us by over £1000 per month? - Or do I lie? - I basically hate lying to children but want to be morally impeccable here (i.e. not get dragged down to the low level of behaviour of his father.) But saying zilch is not an option - I'm not having him think he's done something bad or wrong - or that I no longer love him. He's intelligent and he needs an explanation.
Have asked all my friends etc...Everyone has a different opinion....What do people think????